Hazards in Workplaces

7/30/2019 Hazards in Workplaces

1/20

HAZARDS INWORKPLACE

Gordon Nyakiti

Kenya School of Agriculture

P.O. 190910100

Nyeri


2/20

INTRODUCTION

Occupationalanything connected with a personsjob or profession

Healthstate of being physically and mentally fit

Safetystate of being safe and protected form

danger or harm

Occupational health and safety - is health and

safety that is connected with a persons job or

profession.


3/20

WORKPLACE HAZARDS

DefinitionHazard - is any condition or situation that has

potential for causing harm or damage to

exposed persons or property.

Risk- the probability/likelihood of

occurrence of an adverse effect from a

substance on pple or environment combined

with the magnitude of the consequence ofthat adverse effect.

Dangeroussituation or condition whose

risk is high.


4/20

EFFECTS OF

OCCUPATIONAL/WORKPLACE

HAZARDS

Occupational accidents which result

into personal injury, death and damageto properties.

Occupational diseases and other workrelated diseases


5/20

RECOGNISING HAZARDSHazards may be easily recognized in 3ways

Five common senses

Using modern work environmentmonitoring tools.

Experience

Hazards not recognized cannot be evaluated

and controlled


6/20

1. Five Senses

Sense ofsmell alerts a person to thepresence of a wide range of chemicals and

other substances.

Sense ofhearing alerts one to the presence

of high levels of noise or defect in machinery

Heat and cold can be recognized through

feeling

Eyesight is a very important in identifyinghazards through observation.

Taste can enable one to recognize a

problem in what is being taken orally.


7/20

TYPES OF HAZARDS

Hazards are often grouped into six types asfollows.

Mechanical hazards

Physical hazards

Chemical hazards

Biological hazards Physiological/ergonomics hazards

Psychological/ social factors


8/20

Mechanical hazards Machines that are unguarded, poorly

designed, or manufactured, or

maintained.

Mobile machines-traffic accidents

Poorly designed Tools and Equipments

Condition of floors and gangwaysUnprotected workstations at a height

Poor house keeping


9/20

Mechanical hazards.The direct causes of the accidents include

the following;

contact with dangerous rotating parts of

machines,

trappings by in running nips of

machinery,

entanglement,

explosions,

ejections,

falls of persons and hit by falling objects


10/20

PHYSICAL HAZARDS.

These are forms of energies;

Noise-noise induced hearing loss and ear

irritation Vibration- vibration white fingers (dead hand) Ionizing Radiation- x-rays, gamma rays-

leading to mutation and cancers

Non-ionizing Radiation - UV

eye arc-cataracts

Light- glare- eye strain


11/20

PHYSICAL HAZARDS

Extreme hot temperatures- heat stress, heatexhaustion

Extreme cold temperatures- frost bite

High Pressures and low Pressures

decompression sickness.

Electrical energies- electrocution, electric fog

and electric shock

Adverse health effects may occur as a result ofexcessive exposure to the above forms of

energies.


12/20

Chemical hazardsChemical substances can be found in

the work environment in the following

states; solids, dust, liquids, gases,

vapours, mists, fumes etc.

Examples of chemicals used at work

are; pesticides, insecticides solvents,

fertilizers, metals, acids, alkalis etc


13/20

Routes of access to bodySkin absorption.

Ingestion

Inhalation


14/20

Effects of exposure.

Local effects such as burns or irritation

at the point of contact.

It can also be transported to other partsof the body and affect the body system.

The body response may be immediate ortake a long time.


15/20

Effects to health Irritation

Asphyxiation (oxygen starvation)

Systemic poisons eg lead

Nervous system in various ways.Cancers eg benzene cause leukaemia

and asbestos causes cancer of the

lungs (Mesothelioma).Allergic reaction

Possible damage the reproductive

system and non-heritable birth defects


16/20

Other effects

Explosions e.g. solvents, cooking gas,

petrol may cause fire

Environmental damage. Harm livingorganisms such as plants, animals,

insects, fish etc


17/20

Biological hazards

Bacteria Viruses

Moulds- found on hay and baggase

Animals bites and kicks Animal products-

Plants- such as pollen

Insect bites- eg bee and wasp

Vegetable dust- cotton dust and sisal


18/20

Physiological/ergonomics

hazards

Work station design Badly positioned switches Work organization-shift work etc

Heavy weights- strength to task

Wrong lifting postures

Monotonous work

Underage-child labour


19/20

Psychological/ social

factors Ignorance

Over/under supervision

Poor human relations

Long working hours Inadequate training and instruction

Terms and conditions of employment

Sexual harassment

Violence

Drug abuse

Stress

Personalizing issues


20/20

END

Hazards in Workplaces

Documents

Transcript of Hazards in Workplaces